Summer recipes are coming to an end, which means the season of pumpkin spice, cozy candle-lit nights, and soft sweaters is upon us. We love fall for a number of reasons, and one of the biggest is the food. Pumpkin recipes, apple recipes , maple pork chops, comforting soups, and all our favorite warm, cozy meals are making their annual comeback and we’re not complaining.
Pork chops and applesauce is a classic meal because of it’s simplicity and the fact that it’s such a delicious combination. We take this much-loved recipe up a notch by adding a fall favorite, maple syrup. Serve this recipe with your favorite side dish and vegetable dish and you’ve got the perfect weeknight or weekend meal!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s quick and easy. Saucy Apple Pork Chops come together in less than 30 minutes making them perfect for days when you don’t have a ton of time on your hands.
- It has your favorite fall flavors. Not only does this recipe contain crisp apples, it also uses maple syrup in the sauce making a divine flavor combination perfect for autumn.
- It makes tender pork chops. Sometimes pork chops can get dry if they’re not cooked right. This recipe makes perfectly tender pork chops. Plus, we give you our favorite tips for making sure they’re cooked to perfection.
- The sauce is amazing. Not only does this sauce contain fresh apples and maple syrup, it’s also packed with bold, earthy spices like chili powder and paprika. Our secret ingredient, coarse ground mustard, adds a pop of flavor that’ll make your taste buds dance.
Courtesy of Amy Dong
Key Ingredients
This recipe is full of both pantry staples and seasonal ingredients that work together to make the most delicious meal.- Apple—One fresh, crisp apple is all that’s needed for this recipe. What variety of apple you use is totally up to you. If you like a tarter flavor, try Granny Smith or Pink Lady. If you’re in the sweeter apple camp, try Golden Delicious or Honeycrisp.
- Maple Syrup—This is one of the stars of this dish. We highly prefer pure maple syrup for this recipe. Syrups made specifically for pancakes that have corn syrup in them will have a much different flavor than the real thing.
- Chili Powder—This earthy spice works together with the paprika to add a warm, comforting flavor and slight kick of spice to this dish.
- Paprika—Feel free to use smoked paprika for this dish to add an even stronger burst of warm, smoky flavor.
- Onion Powder—This sweet and pungent spice pairs wonderfully with the sweetness of the apple and maple syrup.
- Salt—The measurements in this recipe are for Kosher salt. Note that using table salt will result in the recipe turning out too salty, because table salt crystals are finer than Kosher.
- Apple Cider Vinegar—Apple cider vinegar adds acidity to the sauce helping to balance the sweeter flavors.
- Coarse Ground Mustard—Coarse mustard adds a zing of flavor, and the seeds bring a nice texture to the sauce.
- Pork Chops—We like using center cut pork chops that are 1″ thick. You can use boneless or bone-in.
Key Tips For Success
- Clean and dry the chops. We like to always give meat a little rinse before using it, just to be sure it’s clean. Make sure to thoroughly pat the pork chops dry to make sure the spices stick and to help them cook properly.
- Don’t crowd them. Depending on the size of your skillet, you may need to cook the pork chops in two batches. We’re looking for crispy edges and tender centers. If you over-crowd the chops, they won’t be able to crisp as nicely.
- Thicken the sauce to your liking. This sauce recipe is not a glaze. If you’re wanting to thicken your sauce more to get that glaze-consistency, simply add 1-2 TB of cornstarch to some water and dissolve it. Then add it to the sauce while it’s boiling.
- Cooking times may vary. Whether you use boneless or bone-in pork chops will alter the cooking time. For best results, we like using a food thermometer to make sure our pork chops reach just the right level of doneness. You’ll know they’re done when they reach 145 degrees.
Courtesy of Amy Dong
What To Serve With Saucy Apple Pork Chops
- Potatoes: You can’t go wrong with a creamy batch of mashed potatoes served alongside pork chops. We love these simple Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes and these Creamy Baked Mashed Potatoes as a comforting potato side. We also think these extra crispy Smashed Potatoes would be perfect with this dish.
- Rice: We love this Wild Rice Pilaf as a healthy side to saucy apple pork chops. For a super simple side, try this Perfect Instant Pot Brown Rice that’s ready in minutes.
- Veggies: We think this fresh and crunchy Kale Brussel Sprouts Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing would balance the warmness of the apple pork chops wonderfully. If you’re looking for a cooked veggie side, try these Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Honey Sriracha or this Easy Roasted Vegetables Recipe.
- Dessert: If you’re looking for a warm fall dessert to finish of the meal, we’ve got you covered! Try these easy and delicious Pumpkin Pie Bars, this sweet and golden Gluten Free Apple Crisp, or these perfectly chewy Brown Sugar Cookies.
Courtesy of Amy Dong
Saucy Apple Pork Chops
These Saucy Apple Pork Chops are amazingly tender, hugely flavorful, and the perfect autumn dinner. Ready in under 30 minutes, they’re easy enough for weeknights yet good enough for weekends.Prep Time: 10 minutes mins Cook Time: 15 minutes mins Total Time: 25 minutes mins Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 4 center cut pork chops, at least 1-inch thick (boneless or bone-in)
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 3 TB apple cider vinegar
- 1 medium apple, any variety, peeled and thinly sliced
- ½ cup regular strength chicken broth
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 tsp coarse ground mustard, with seeds
- 3 TB olive oil, divided
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley, if desired
- In a small bowl, whisk together the chili powder, paprika, onion powder, and salt.
- Use paper towels to dry excess moisture from pork chops. Press seasoning evenly over both sides of the pork chops. Set aside.
- In a saucepan set over medium-high heat, add the apple cider vinegar and reduce it by half. Stir in apples, chicken broth, maple syrup, and mustard. Bring to a boil and continue boiling (uncovered) until reduced, 6 minutes. Turn heat off. Add 1/4 tsp table salt, or to taste. Keep warm.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the pork chops and cook until browned, about 2 minutes per side (cook in 2 batches if needed; don’t crowd pan.) Reduce the heat to medium-low, with lid on but slightly ajar to allow steam to escape. Cook 2-3 more minutes or just until center is cooked; do not over cook.
- Transfer to a serving platter and serve with the maple apple sauce. Garnish with parsley, if desired.
This sauce is au-jus style; not a thick glaze. If you want a thick glaze, simply dissolve 1-2 TB cornstarch in 1-2 TB water in a small bowl. Once fully dissolved, add it to the boiling maple-apple sauce during the boiling step.
Bone-in pork chops will take longer to cook; you may need to add an extra minute on both sides.
Serve Saucy Apple Pork Chops with Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes and Kale Brussel Sprouts Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing for a comforting and nourishing meal.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 443kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 804mg | Potassium: 684mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 367IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Dinner, Main
Cuisine: Amerian
Diet: Gluten Free, Low Fat, Low Lactose
Method: Skillet, Stovetop
